Exodus 10:18-28

18 ¹He went out from Pharaoh and made supplication to the LORD.

19 So the LORD shifted the wind to a very strong west wind which took up the locusts and drove them into the Red * Sea; not one locust was left in all the territory of Egypt.

20 But ²the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the sons of Israel go.

Darkness over the Land

21 Then the LORD said to Moses, "³Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even a darkness ⁴which may be felt."

22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was ⁵thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days.

23 They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, ⁶but all the sons of Israel had light in their dwellings.

24 Then Pharaoh ⁷called to Moses, and said, "Go, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be detained. Even ⁸your little ones may go with you."

25 But Moses said, "You must also let us have * sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice them to the LORD our God.

26 "⁹Therefore, our livestock too shall go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we shall take some of them to serve the LORD our God. And until we arrive there, we ourselves do not know with what we shall serve the LORD."

27 But ¹⁰the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he was not willing to let them go.

28 Then Pharaoh said to him, "¹¹Get away from me! Beware, do not see my face again, for in the day you see my face you shall die!"

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Exodus 10:18-28 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 10

This chapter is introduced with giving the reasons why the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, Ex 10:1,2. Moses and Aaron go in to him, and once more demanded in the name of the Lord the dismission of the people of Israel, and in case of refusal, threatened him with locusts being sent into his country, which should make terrible havoc in all his coasts, Ex 10:3-6, the servants of Pharaoh entreat him to let them go, upon which Moses and Aaron are brought in again, and treated with about the terms of their departure; but they, insisting upon taking all with them, men, women, and children, and flocks and herds, and Pharaoh not willing that any but men should go, they are drove from his presence in wrath, Ex 10:7-11 wherefore the locusts were brought on all the land, which made sad devastation in it, Ex 10:12-15, and this wrought on Pharaoh so far as to acknowledge his sin, pray for forgiveness, and to desire Moses and Aaron to entreat the Lord to remove the plague, which they did, and it was removed accordingly, but still Pharaoh's heart was hardened, Ex 10:16-20 then followed the plague of thick darkness over all the land for three days, which brought Pharaoh to yield that all should go with them excepting their flocks and herds; but Moses not only insisted that not a hoof should be left behind, but that Pharaoh should give them sacrifices and burnt offerings, Ex 10:21-26. Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he refused to comply, and Moses was bid to be gone, and take care never to see his face any more, and which Moses agreed to, Ex 10:27-29.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 11

1. Exodus 8:30
2. Exodus 4:21; Exodus 11:10
3. Exodus 9:22
4. Deuteronomy 28:29
5. Psalms 105:28; Revelation 16:10
6. Exodus 8:22
7. Exodus 8:8, 25
8. Exodus 10:10
9. Exodus 10:9
10. Exodus 4:21; Exodus 10:20; Exodus 14:4, 8
11. Exodus 10:11

Footnotes 6

[a]. Lit "Sea of Reeds"
[b]. Lit "made strong"
[c]. Lit "give into our hand"
[d]. Lit "make"
[e]. Lit "made strong"
[f]. Lit "Take heed to yourself"